Air Mobility Plan, 2008 - The Black Vault

Executive Summary
increased range and fuel efficiency will reduce our dependency on forward operating bases while
minimizing our footprint and reducing transit time. Fourth, the MAF will continue to open bases
in forward areas. Our contingency response wings will need new tools and gear that is ultra light,
reliable, easy to maintain, and fuel efficient. Power generation systems must be self sustaining, taking
advantage of solar, chemical or wind driven systems. The integration of Agile Combat Support (ACS)
capabilities will be integral to providing persistent and effective support for application of global air
and space operations.
AMC’s Science and Technology Working Group, led by AMC’s Chief Scientist, will lead the way
in leveraging the S&T efforts of both its government and industry partners. AMC has identified
research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) areas critical to its future success. Some of
these areas include autonomous operations, defensive systems, energy conservation and efficiencies,
human factors, austere area operations, all weather capability, and vertical delivery. AMC is exploring
solutions to these areas via advanced/joint concept technology demonstrations, advanced technology
demonstrations, and critical experiments. Whatever solutions will be needed to make the MAF vision
a reality, the AMC Future Concepts Branch will be fundamental to our success.
Roadmaps
The 2008 AMMP contains mission area, mission category, weapon system, and support process
roadmaps. Each roadmap is based upon an approved mission capability statement and contains an
assessment of our ability to accomplish the mission today and in 2032. Milestones, organized into short-,
mid-, and long-term time intervals, needed to obtain the required mission capabilities are also included.
Roadmaps are written for use by strategic planners, industry partners, and senior leadership.
Air Mobility Mission Area Roadmaps
The Mobility Air Forces are responsible for three mission areas
that support national security needs: Airlift, Air Refueling, and Air
Mobility Support. Chapter 3 contains roadmaps providing a strategic
view of those areas. The deficiencies and solution sets for each
mission area roadmap (included on the CD-ROM that accompanies
this volume) are broad in nature. The following are a few of the
highlights. Our analysis suggests that while the MAF has fielded the
finest airlift capability in military history, improvements are required
to continue to support the warfighter in the future. The C-130 fleet
continues to age and, without modernization, some of our older
C-130s will no longer be able to meet the needs of the warfighter.
Additionally, the C-130J cargo compartment size is not large enough
to carry the US Army’s larger vehicles of the future combat system
now under development. Although improved aircraft defensive
systems are planned, the increased range and
lethality of future systems may restrict C-130s from
all but low threat environments. AMC will proceed
with additional C-130J procurement and C-130H
modernization as we replace restricted or grounded
C-130E aircraft. Over the long term, AMC intends
to field the Advanced Joint Air Combat System
(AJACS) as the eventual replacement for the
C-130H. Additionally, as AMC looks to the longterm
and the replacement of the C-5s and C-17s,
AMC will initiate procurement actions for the next
generation Global Airlifter, the C-X.
8
OCT 07